Biman to ground flights to Japan from Jul 1

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced the suspension of its flight from Dhaka to Japan's Narita from Jul 1, citing "ongoing Hajj operations, aircraft shortage, and commercial realities".

In a statement on Sunday, the flag carrier said that flights on the Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka route would be halted until further notice.

Passengers who have already bought tickets for flights scheduled after Jul 1 will be eligible for a full refund without any additional charges, it added.

Affected passengers have been asked to contact Biman’s sales offices, ticket counters, or their respective travel agents for assistance.

Biman launched direct flights between Dhaka and Narita on Sept 1, 2023. The suspension means that there will no longer be a direct air link between Bangladesh and Japan.

Biman first introduced the Dhaka-Narita route in 1981, but discontinued it in 2006. Earlier, in 1979, the airline had also launched a Dhaka-Tokyo service, which was later suspended as well.